The Great Commission/s in the Gospels and Acts
The Gospels and Acts record at least four accounts of Jesus’ Commission to his disciples. Each writer gives his uniquely inspired view, each adds something to the complete picture.
The context for each of the Commissions is the death and resurrection of Jesus. Over 40 days Jesus appeared to the eleven apostles and a wider group of disciples, both men and women. He gave convincing proof that he had risen from the dead. Jesus took them through the Scriptures, the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms opening their minds to understand how they taught that the Messiah must suffer and rise again and how his disciples must continue his mission in the power of the Spirit.
It’s important to realise that without the resurrection, there would have been no missionary movement. The movement did not emerge from the disciples, it was Je- sus who brought them back together and restored them, gave them his authority and gave them their mission with the promise of his abiding presence through the Holy Spirit.
From beginning to end, this missionary movement is a work of God—his authority, his commission and his promise will ensure its success.
1. The Authority
The crucified One has risen from the dead and the Father has been given unrivaled and universal authority in heaven and on earth. He brought the kingdom and he is the King. Now as the Father sent him, he sends his disciples.
What will they to do?
2. The Commission
The disciples are to bear witnesses to the significance of his life, death and resurrection. His message was the kingdom of God is here, repent and believe the good news! They will preach the same message, the kingdom has come, the King has won the victory, repent and believe the good news! They are to preach repentance for the forgiveness of sins. They will make disciples by baptising those who repent and believe, and teaching them to obey everything Jesus has commanded.
Jesus did not say, teach them everything except the command to make disciples of the nations. This mission is for the disciples standing before Jesus, and for every disciple down through the ages until the task is completed.
They will begin in Jerusalem they will go to all nations—to every people group—and not stop going until they reach the uttermost limits of the earth. The fruit of their mission are disciples who have repented and believed and been baptised in community learning to obey what Jesus commanded.
Despite three years with Jesus these disciples have already displayed the limits of their understanding and resolve. What confidence can they have of ultimate success?
3. The Promise
The risen Lord promises to be with them, and he will be with those who follow them—to the ends of the earth and the end of the age. He will send the gift the Father has promised, the Holy Spirit. They will be baptised—immersed, plunged, overwhelmed—when the Holy Spirit comes on them. The Spirit will clothe them with power from on high, so they can be his witnesses to the world.
His presence, his teaching, his example, that’s all he promises.
The crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ will continue his mission through his disciples. The rest of the New Testament reveals that as his dynamic Word goes out in the power of the Spirit, the fruit is always repentant and forgiven disciples, in community, learning to obey his commands.
Jesus promised, “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matt 24:14).
Come, Lord Jesus!
The Great Commission in Acts
The Great Commission in Matthew
The Great Commission in John
The Great Commission in Luke
